Abstract:

A method for setting valve action, used by a control system having a
dialog box, includes choosing a start/stop mode of the valve action. A
dialog box of the control system shows start/stop condition fields
according to the start/stop mode of the valve action. A start/stop
condition field for start/stop timing of the valve action is set.

Claims:

1. A method for setting valve action, utilized by a control system
comprising a human-machine interface, the method comprising:selecting a
start/stop mode of the valve action;displaying start/stop condition
fields according to the start/stop mode of the valve action on in the
interface of the control system; andsetting the start/stop condition
field for start/stop timing of the valve action.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein every start/stop mode of the
valve action is determined by the start condition of the valve action and
stop condition of the valve action respectively.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the start condition of the
valve action is determined by a selected action process or external
signal, and the stop condition of the valve action is determined by a
selected action process and action time.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the start condition is an
action process, the valve action and injection molding action start at
the same time, the stop condition is an action process, and the valve
action stops when the injection molding is complete.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the start/stop condition
fields include an action process field, a position setting field, an
action time field, and a delay time field.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data of the action time
field is the valve action time, and the data of the delay time field is
the delay time after which the valve action starts.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the action process includes a
mold close position field, a nozzle forward field, an injection
velocity/pressure switch field, a decompression field, a recovery field,
a withdraw field, an mold open position field, a eject forward field, and
an eject backward field.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve action start timing
and stop timing of the start/stop mode are in the same cycle or in
different cycles, and the cycle of stopping the valve action timing does
not precede the cycle of starting the valve action timing.

[0004]Referring to FIG. 6, a valve control system of an injection molding
machine includes a human-machine interface. The interface includes a
valve action dialog box receiving data input, configured for setting
timing of the valve action accordingly. The valve action dialog box
offers only preset values, and cannot satisfy the needs of different
manufacturing processes. Since start/stop timing of the valve actions
require different setting modes, the valve action dialog box must be
modified, thus increasing the workload of a programmer.

[0005]What is needed, therefore, is a method for setting valve action
addressing the described limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first dialog box of a control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for setting valve action in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a second dialog box of a control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a diagram of a third dialog box of a control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a diagram of a fourth dialog box of a control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a diagram of a conventional dialog box for setting valve
action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0012]A method for setting valve action of an injection molding machine in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. Referring to FIG. 1,
the injection molding machine includes a control system having a
human-machine interface. The interface includes a dialog box having a
plurality of input fields, via which a user can input data and select
options.

[0014]In Step S20, a start/stop mode of the valve action is chosen, based
on a start condition and stop condition of the valve action,
respectively. The start conditions of the valve action include action
process and external signal. The stop conditions of the valve action of
includes action process and action time. An appropriate start/stop mode
is chosen according to the requisite manufacturing process.

[0015]In Step S21, a dialog box of a control system utilizing a method for
setting valve action shows condition fields according to the start/stop
mode of the valve action. The start/stop condition fields include action
process, position setting, action time, and delay time fields. The
start/stop condition fields include two injection molding cycles. Action
processes include mold close position, nozzle forward, injection
velocity/pressure switch, decompression, recovery, withdraw, mold open
position, eject forward, and eject backward fields.

[0016]In Step S22, a start/stop condition field for start/stop timing of
the valve action is set. The action process of the start condition field
precedes the action process of the stop condition field.

[0017]Referring back to FIG. 1, a dialog box 10 of a control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action shows the first start/stop
mode of the valve action. The start condition of the first start/stop
mode is an action process. The stop condition of the first start/stop
mode is when an action time expires. The valve action and injection
molding action start at the same time. For example, an operator may
choose the "open mold position" in the action process field of the start
condition field, input data 200.0 into the "mold open position", input
data 0.1 in the delay time field, and input data 3 into the action time
field of the stop condition field. Consequently, the mold is opened to
the set "open mold position", the valve action starts after 0.1 seconds,
and after 3 seconds, the valve action stops.

[0018]Referring to FIG. 3, the dialog box 10 of the control system
utilizing a method for setting valve action shows the second start/stop
mode of the valve action. The start condition of the second start/stop
mode is an action process. The stop condition of the second start/stop
mode is an action process. For example, an operator may choose the
"withdraw" in the action process field of the start condition field in
the current cycle, the valve action stops when injection molding is
complete, choose the "nozzle forward" in the action process field of the
stop condition field in the next cycle. The action process of the start
condition field precedes the action process of the stop condition field.
When the current injection molding process cycle reaches "withdraw",
valve action starts. When the next injection molding process cycle goes
"nozzle forward", the valve action stops.

[0019]It should be noted that the start and stop valve action timing of
the second start/stop mode can be in the same or different cycles. The
cycle of stopping the valve action timing cannot precede the start of
valve action timing.

[0020]Referring to FIG. 4, dialog box 10 of the control system utilizing a
method for setting valve action shows the third start/stop mode of the
valve action. The start condition of the third start/stop mode is
generated by an external signal, timing for which is shown on the dialog
box according to the action process. The stop condition of the third
start/stop mode is an action time. For example, an operator may input
data 0.2 into the delay time field, input data 2.5 into the action time
field of the stop condition field. When the control system receives the
external signal, the valve action starts after 0.2 seconds. After 2.5
seconds action time of the valve action, the valve action stops.

[0021]Referring to FIG. 5, dialog box 10 of the control system utilizing a
method for setting valve action shows the fourth start/stop mode of the
valve action. The start condition of the third start/stop mode is
activation of an external signal. The stop condition of the fourth
start/stop mode is an action process. For example, an operator may set
the external signal, the external signal timing shows on the dialog box
according the action process, choose the "eject forward" in the action
process field of the stop condition field. When the control system
receives the external signal, start the valve action. When the injection
molding process goes to the "eject forward", the valve action stops.

[0022]It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment are
intended to illustrate rather than limit the invention. Variations may be
made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention
as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the
invention but do not restrict the scope of the invention.